Cooper Landing

Posted: Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Cheerio.

Anna "Perky" Head, taught school here in the 1960s and cheerio was her word for hello and goodbye.

Cooper Landing Senior Citizens Corp. Inc.'s President Chuck Young sounded a call to collection for tonight's Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting. Seniors plan to show they are prepared to make the Cooper Landing Senior Citizens Campus a reality in progress as soon as they get property off Snug Harbor Road.

In the latest CLSCCI newsletter, "Senior Links," Chuck mentioned the seniors made $1,000 from their Feb. 12 lasagna dinner and the Endowment Fund now stands at over $74,000. The goal is to have a half million dollar balance so they can draw on the interest only for expenses for the senior housing. CLSCCI's next fund-raiser is the pancake breakfast on March 12.

CLSCCI board members are Dean Birmley, Carla Britton, Anne Engbers, Tom Farrington, Alma Fowler, Jan Mitchell, John Williams and Chuck Young. Committee chairs are Jacque Greenman for building and site, Marge Van Kooten for care and outreach, Jacque Greenman for endowment, Carla Britton for membership, Mayme Ohnemus for Sexy Senior Dumpster Cleaners, Anne Englers for transportation and for ways and means. The newsletter chair is open. Chuck is filling that position until someone volunteers.

Katie Thomas Green sent this report for the Cooper Landing Activity Divas: "Well folks, we're coming to the end of the events season. Saturday will be the movie 'Chocolat' followed by all your favorite chocolate desserts. Time to be announced very soon. We would like to suggest that, in addition to your dessert and beverage, everyone bring their own plate or bowl, cutlery, and cup or glass.

"Deb Carlson has been working hard at getting us to recycle and use dishes that are reusable. It's time we paid attention. A reminder will be made when we have the time set for the event."

Thanks to Jon and Kathy James for securing live music for us at the Mardi Gras! Job well done and good music, too. Thanks to everyone who lent a hand in cleaning up and putting the tables and chairs away.

Another reminder  these events are the product of six busy ladies: Sally Davis, Jo Cox, Deb Carlson, Kathy Recken, Robin Vorpahl and myself. We've all worked really hard to do this and have had a wonderful time.

Your input about activities for next year would be appreciated. Your involvement with planning and executing events would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to call any one of us if you are willing to lend a hand,

Hannah Norris celebrated her 8th birthday with friends and family at a roller skating party in Soldotna recently.

Gary Galbraith and Alex Kime are appearing in television commercials regarding their Cooper Landing businesses.

Former resident and Cooper Landing Community Club president Margaret Branson was one of the nine jury members who selected the four designs for the new Alaska State Capitol. The jury's choice of the winning design will be announced today.

Rev. Floyd McElveen, "Mac, wrote a semi-autographical book, "The Call of Alaska," published in 1996. I was skimming through the book last week looking for references about the Sterling Highway, specifically when the road was changed from passing between Hidden Lake and Skilak Lake to the present route. Mac's description of life in Cooper Landing after he and his family arrived in June of 1958 soon caught my attention as did the building of Kenai Lake Baptist Church and those early days at Solid Rock Bible Camp.

The McElveens rented the house near Cooper Creek. "Our house was cold," Mac writes, "with one main room and a little bedroom, tacked on as an afterthought. We had an attic which wasn't made for living, but we put the three boys up there with Ginger in the main room since there was a stove there. Many times Virginia and I slept in our insulated underwear. Our socks would be frozen to the floor in the morning. No problem in waking up, just put your socks on. Our pillow would be frozen to the wall. Mississippi seemed light years away."

Mac said an oil stove was too costly to use. "We had a Yukon stove homemade from a 55 gallon oil drum, but that thing ate wood like a bear eats salmon. I couldn't keep enough wood to satisfy its ravenous maw and still accomplish any missionary work." I will continue the McElveens' story next week.

Mona Painter can be reached by phone at 595-1248 or by email at painter@arctic.net